Daniel Boilard and his wife, Ruth, protesting at the Madison County Courthouse today, Oct. 28, 2013. The hearing impaired couple argues they should have been provided an int-rpreter during a misdemeanor court proceeding in which Boilard was the alleged victim and his wife was a witness. (Brian Lawson/blawson@al.com)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- A hearing-impaired Toney man and his deaf wife protested outside the Madison County Courthouse this morning, alleging unfair treatment and a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, during a misdemeanor criminal trial held Oct. 17.

Donald Boilard and his wife, Ruth Boilard, had several signs complaining about discrimination and mishandling of the case. Boilard said his wife was not given a certified interpreter, as the law requires, while testifying as a witness in a third-degree assault case where he was the alleged victim. Alabama law makes provisions for hearing interpreters in Alabama Code section 12-21-131, and spells out related qualifications.

Boilard says he was slapped by a neighbor in a dispute over the neighbor's dog in July. The neighbor was found not guilty Oct. 17, after a bench trial presided over by Madison County District Judge Schuyler Richardson.

Boilard said the case's prosecutor Shauna Barnett and the judge violated the couple's rights by having Boilard serve as the interpreter for his wife's testimony. Boilard said he asked for a certified interpreter, but was advised that he could serve as his wife's interpreter.

Boilard said he has filed an Americans with Disabilities Act complaint about Barnett and sent the Alabama Judicial Commission a complaint about Richardson.

But the Madison County District Attorney Rob Broussard said today that the case, one of thousands of misdemeanor case the DA's office handles each year, was conducted according to Boilard's wishes.

"We had met with him and gave him the option of delaying the trial to secure an interpreter or go forward with him interpreting for his wife," Broussard said. "He chose to go forward, the judgment went against him and now he's unhappy.

Boilard said he plans to continue the protest with other members of the deaf community over the next few days.